Dispelling truths about our favorite dynasty

On this day in Tudor History, two monarchs were born and died. The first is the father, Henry VII, who was born in Pembroke Castle in Wales in 1457. The second is the son, Henry VIII who succeeded him in 1509 and died on this day in 1547.

28 January 1457 –A Very Happy Birthday to Henry the Seventh, the founder of the Tudor Dynasty!

The first monarch of the Tudor dynasty, he continues to generate controversy, no thanks to recent portrayals in fiction. In spite of the miserly image he is known for, Henry’s life was shaped by turbulent events that he had no control of. As shown by Lisle and Jones below, in comparison to Richard III, he might not appear larger than life, yet Henry also made many legal improvements that are often forgotten.

“Whatever the judgment of a merciful God on Henry VII, that of historians has not always been complimentary. What are most often recalled are his last years and the accusations of avarice. Was he a better King than Richard III might have been had he survived Bosworth? Richard’s abolition of forced loans to the Crown … his protection of the church, promotion…